Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Residents of Bujumbura-Rurale denounce Rwasa, urge international community to investigate FNL atrocities

A statement addressed to the South African government minister and peace talks mediator Charles Nqakula, and signed by Placide Nsengyunva "in agreement with the survivors of Bujumbura Rurale" has urged the international community not to accept any deal which involves a pardon for the FNL leader Agathon Rwasa, arguing that only Rwasa's victims have the right to give any such pardon.

"..it is us who lost our possessions and who were driven out of the hills where we were born. Therefore, it is us who should have the last word, which is nothing other than that Justice is returned, and the guilty be punished according to the law", the survivors argue.

Also included in the statement is a list of more than seventy alleged civilian victims of Rwasa's FNL. The survivors urge "whoever would like to know more on this subject" to come to Bujumbura and investigate these deaths.

Full statement (English translation):

We have the honour to address your high Authority, with an aim of presenting our dismay at the provisional immunity and of the pardon desired by Mr. Agathon RWASA and in addition, to present this list of innocent civilian victims cut down under the command of Mr. Agathon RWASA. Exellence, Mr. the Mediator, immunity, pardons or General Amnesties cannot be delivered before justice has been done. We demand insistently that National and International justice be given an important place among the agreements which are made and signed, here we urge your Government to avoid falling into the traps of Mr. Agathon RWASA. There can be nogotiation, and no acceptance of the pardon that Mr. RWASA demands in the place of the survivors or the victims, it is us who lost the our possessions and who were driven out of the hills where we were born. Therefore, it is us who should have the last word, which is nothing other than that Justice is returned, and the guilty be punished according to the law.

Concerning the list that we referred to at the beginning: We do not have much to add, only that we invite whoever would like to know more on this subject to join us in Bujumbura. We are ready to guide anyone who would like to make a proper investigation. Thus the truth will be established and the errors and lies avoided from all those sides which are involved in this business. We challenge Amnesty International and Humans Rights Watch to come to inquire into ground so that the crimes, tortures and ignoble acts that have been inflicted on the humble peasants of Bubanza, Cibitoke and Bujumbura Rural can be made plain to the general public.